The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-12-15
REPLY TO ~T."

! "rlte while IN Oa0 numOI, Wnen cool
| ing and deliberation could have served
his purpose better. He sets out by
calling me " Smart Ellick," "want-
| ing in capacity to know where the
terminus of anything would be-" All.
though writing for the approval o. dis
approval of his readers he threatens to
throw down Tie little "tacs hammer
he has SO Intellectually used, and give
some "sledge hammer" blows if ..R. "
should call in question the correctness
of his conclusions. will say TO ~. u
in the outset that shall keep cool,
and not descend to the channel OF
personal abuse, measuring opprobious
epithets with him. hope ct" now
understands my position-a position
any sensible writer should take who
wishes to arrive at facts by sound log
ical deductions.
"T.' wishes me to enlighten nv
mind by asking Col. Andrews where
the end of chain of railroad con-
nectlon from one point to another is.
l certainly shall not put myself to SO
much trouble to convince Col. An
drews, or any body else, that am
such an ignoramus | don't know that
the last link in chain is the end of
It. Every mule driving negro knows
that much, nor can ct" convince
him to the contrary with his ponder
Gus sledge hammer" | care moth
ing about the different names the diff
terent sections in the chain Of railroad
communication from Richmond to
Henderson go by; we are talking
about the practical workings of the
system and not the name of each of
the connecting links in the chain.
And l think Cat the risk of being called
a "Smart Ellick," wanting in mental
capacity, by ct" y it would be pretty
difficult to convince Henderson to-
bacco buyer, starting his car load OF
tobacco from here at 7 o'clock in the
morning, and reaching Richmond at
? O'Clock in the afternoon, that Ok
ford was the terminus Of the route,
And I am inclined to think that even
the most prejudiced citizen of Oxford
might possibly think when he hears
the laundering of the cars while pass
ing eastward with through freight for
Henderson, that Oxford is not the
stopping place for that train at least
"T' says: " We are anxious YOU
Should have an outlet for your freight,
and SO we (meaning the people of Ok
ford | suppose) connect our roads
(there is only one running there) with
your little 0. & H. road" That gen.
erous desire must have entered Your
head about the time you voted to help
build road to the " little" shipping
place of Henderson, as a matter Of
necessity for your inland town. This
generosity of "7ve" for the welfare of
Henderson reminds me of the pener-
oslty of an old Granville farmer in
slavery times. He got in debt to a
creditor, who obtained judgment and
execution against him, and placed the
claim in the hands of the sheriff for
collection. The sheriff went to his
house to levy on and take one of
his negroes in possession to raise the
money. The farmer hearing the OBJ
lect OF his visit became fiercelv mad
and throwing out few of his double
7ectif'ed adjectives, took up a fence |
rail and threatened vengeance on anv |
one that should touch one of his ne
5roes. The sheriff coolly reminded
nm that he was performing his official
luty, and that he might get in trouble
~ the course he was pursuing. The
I'D farmer throwing down his rail and
his head awhile as if con-
lderlng what best to do, said to the
egro, d" reckon you had as we'll 90
long with the sheriff, but it is bad
reatment." No doubt the old farmer
hought he deserved credit for letting
he negro go with the officer of the
a". And no doubt ct" thinks
7oe' deserve much credit for M,
fnanFss IN consenting to what .zve"
ould not prevent.
"I." says: ave connected orr
Dad with the o. & H. road, to let
Dur merchants purchase their goods
ON our wholesale merchants in or
rd IN the future, and not have to 90
tar to do So" Such slurs serve bu;
Re purpose; to show the bitter feel
IS OF the writer, and his desire to
loerrate and injure a high toned
'oPie totally unaffected by his sup
'sed wlttlcism. l shall offer no com
ent on the fling" of the writer, as
deserves none. ct" SAYS again.
Henderson and Vance county are n
children Of old Oxford and Gran |,
lie county" at" has given me a
zee of information for which he will
cept my thanks. l had thought
IN the want of maternal affection on #
part of the old mother, Oxford no l
existed between them. AT
y rate Henderson does not claim il
T should Oxford, while heaping
use IS upon an enterprising people too II
Sly engaged in more important "
tiers to notice them. Henderson -
lot gong to step down from her
n road to prosperity and influence
pay any attention to the harmless
sues OF envy and malignity that S s.9
at her feet. Like the lnn,;ra RI